Texas Bigfoot Conference founder Craig Woolheater believes in the big guy

On Memorial Day weekend in 1994, Craig Woolheater was driving home to Dallas from New Orleans on US 71 in central Louisiana when he and his then-girlfriend saw a 7-foot-tall gray figure on the side of the road. He wanted to turn around. His girlfriend said no way. He’s been fascinated with the elusive bigfoot ever since. 

A few years later, Woolheater’s parents operated a bed-and-breakfast in Jefferson, a town with a long history of Sasquatch sightings. When he attended the Southeast Ohio Bigfoot Conference in the late ’90s and decided to bring the concept to Texas, Woolheater determined Jefferson was the perfect location. The inaugural event took place a few days after 9/11. “We had 130 people show up,” he says. “It was kind of nice to have something to bring folks together.” 

Declared the Bigfoot Capital of Texas by town proclamation in 2018, Jefferson and its residents have embraced the hairy cryptid. Many restaurants have bigfoot-themed menu items, and nearly every store sells related merchandise. There’s even a 6-foot, 3,000-pound statue on Jefferson’s nature trail that locals call “Bigfoot Alley.” 

Bigfoot is just one of Woolheater’s many passions. In a town with a busy schedule of historical home tours, car shows, and Civil War reenactments, Woolheater has organized several events to draw in new crowds. He runs a convention for Mazda Miata enthusiasts each March and the Texas UFOCon, which takes place in August. “But Bigfoot fever sure seems to have taken over,” he says. 

Woolheater’s Jefferson Picks

1 ⁄ Jefferson General Store

This cabinet of curiosities opened in 1860. The current owners bought the store more than 40 years ago and expanded it into a destination shop filled with creative gifts and goods. Guests can head to the soda fountain for a chocolate milkshake or a 5-cent coffee.

2 ⁄ Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar

With a line out the door most weekends, this downtown diner has become a bustling enterprise under owner Kitt Williams. She started serving her famous “kornbread” sandwiches, including burgers, BLTs, and grilled cheese,  more than 15 years ago. Woolheater’s favorite is the Bigfoot burger with a side of broccoli salad.

3 ⁄ Riverport Barbecue

Barbecue lovers from around the state seek out this family-run joint that serves classics like pulled pork, ribs, and banana pudding. You’ll often find the restaurant’s food at Woolheater’s conferences at city hall. “I’m a smoked turkey guy,” he says. 

4 ⁄ Historic Jefferson Ghost Walk 

“Everything in Jefferson is haunted,” Woolheater says. This explains the large number of ghost tours and haunted house experiences in the area to check out, including those hosted by Historic Jefferson Ghost Walk.

5 ⁄ Excelsior House

The longest-running hotel in Texas has hosted famous guests, from Lady Bird Johnson to Steven Spielberg, since 1858. These days, the 15-room property operates as a 501(c)(3) by the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club. The group also hosts the annual Jefferson Pilgrimage, a celebration of town history held each May.